AFTER looking forward to a break in the sun, a trio of holidaymakers who fell victim to an internet travel scam could end up out of pocket.

Leanne Halling, aged 21, Amy Rose, 22, and Hannah Rose, 21, from Malvern, are warning other people to be on their guard when booking holidays over the net.

Through the website sunmedresorts. com, they had booked to go on a week long trip to Tenerife with Leanne's son Callum and Amy's son, Joshua, who are both aged three.

They paid the £1,417 bill by credit card, and were due to fly to the resort at the end of September.

On Saturday, when they phoned the agency to try to alter the booking so another friend could come along, they discovered they had been defrauded.

"We tried and tried to get through and then we found the phone number we'd been given was a coffee bar," said Leanne. They found sunmedresorts.com was listed on the Holidaywatch website as fraudulent.

"We reported it to the local police and the police in Islington, who are investigating it," said Hannah. "They've arrested two people. There were five websites and they think that up to 3,000 people might have been conned."

Leanne said: "It's disgusting. This was going to be my first holiday abroad since Callum was born."

Now the trio are waiting to hear if they will get their money back, as they paid by credit card.

"Even if we get the money back it's going to be difficult to find another holiday. I've already booked that week off work," said Leanne.

They warned other holidaymakers to beware of tempting offers on the web. "People should only use proper travel agents, ones that are ABTA registered," said Amy.

A Metropolitan Police spokeman said two people had been charged with conspiracy to defraud and remanded in custody to appear at crown court.

11:13am Friday 25th August 2006

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